UNAIR NEWS – Pap Smears Screening once a year does not seem to be entrenched among Indonesian women. When there is nothing to fear from this cervical cancer screening method. Having the willingness to do Pap Smear means an effort of anticipatory step.

Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, through Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology RSUD Dr. Soetomo-FK UNAIR, disseminated the importance of Pap smear examination by holding a free Pap smear examination for employees and staff of RSUD Dr. Hospital. Soetomo-FK UNAIR. It was held in KB-2 Clinic RSUD Dr. Soetomo, Surabaya.

The Coordinator, dr. Ardi Eko Marsanto revealed, the event was held to celebrate the anniversary of the 63rd Anniversary of UNAIR as well as a dissemination event on the importance of performing cervical cancer screening.

“For cervical cancer screening, Pap Smear is easier and has a higher accuracy value than screening using the IVA method,” he said.

From various cases of female reproductive organs, cervical cancer leads as cause of women death in Indonesia. It was suspected because of the lack of cervical cancer screening coverage.

“Hearing the word cervical cancer, people tend to feel fear. However, even when the result shows positive, it is not a cancer only a pre-cancer, “he said.

This is unfortunate, but if Pap Smear screening is done early, the possibility of pre-cancerous lesions can be detected early, because the screening provides more specific and accurate results.

“Even if there are positive pre-cancerous lesions, it is very likely to be treated and cured, because it is still at an early stage,” he said.

Furthermore, Ardi also said that cervical cancer prenatal symptoms are generally characterized by recurrent vaginal discharge. “If it is pre-cancerous, generally not accompanied with recurrent vaginal discharge. While Pap smear indication shows, if the patient has experienced recurrent vaginal discharge then she is indicated to have stage 2 cervical cancer, “he said.

When a screening results show signs of cervical abnormalities, Ardi added, then colposcopy is necessary. It is a procedure of inserting a small camera into the vagina to check for abnormal cells in or around the vagina, vulva, or cervix.

With clearer visualization, according to Ardi, the pathological conditions should be known, so biopsy can be done to determine the invasion depth of cancer cells.

“This way we will know the stage of cancer, thus determining the next measures,” he said.

Author: Sefya Hayu Istighfaricha

Editor: Nuri Hermawan